Chemistry Programs

The Department of Chemistry offers a wide variety of undergraduate courses to prepare students for careers in chemistry and to provide the chemical understanding required for a variety of other fields. A two year schedule showing when specific classes will be offered is available.

General degree requirements may be found in the UCA undergraduate bulletin.

BS in Chemistry-ACS Certified Standard Track: Amodel plan of study and Checksheet BS Chem-ACS Certified-2014. In addition to the requirements for the traditional BS in Chemistry, this program requires some additional advanced coursework (including math and instrumental methods) and some additional experience in laboratory research. This degree plan follows a curriculum certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS).

BS in Chemistry -ACS Certified Biochemistry Track: A model plan of study and a checksheet. The Biochemistry track is ideal for students planning careers in the health sciences as well as those who wish to pursue careers in biochemistry and related areas. In addition to the requirements for the traditional BS in Chemistry, this program requires some additional advanced coursework (including genetics and microbiology) and some additional experience in laboratory research. This degree plan follows a curriculum certified by the American Chemical Society (ACS).

BS Degree in Chemistry with minor (student’s choice): A model-plan-of-study model plan of study and a checksheet. This BS degree in Chemistry prepares students for a variety of careers that require an in-depth understanding of chemical principles. This track is favored by students who want a minor farther removed from the natural sciences (i.e. foreign languages, business, psychology) or one that is closely aligned with chemistry (like biology, math, or physics). Also available is a 3-year plan of study that includes summer school.BS in Environmental Science– Chemistry emphasis: A model plan of study and a checksheet are available for a degree in environmental science that emphasizes the study of chemical aspects of this field.Interested in being a chemistry teacher? A four-year program with a major in chemistry and minor in STEMTeach allows you to graduate with a degree specifically designed to prepare high quality secondary school teachers. Find out later that you don’t like teaching? Then you have excellent preparation for a number of other types of jobs.

A departmental Honors Program is available in the Chemistry Department for junior or senior students with an overall GPA of 3.25 or better and a chemistry GPA of 3.40 or better, and the consent of the department chair. To graduate with honors in chemistry, students will demonstrate research competency by engaging in not less than two semesters of research with a chemistry faculty mentor. Honors students will write a report of their research using proper grammar and style for the discipline. Each student will demonstrate proficiency in public speaking by making an oral presentation to the departmental honors committee, other chemistry faculty members, and students.

An overview of chemistry programs is provided by documents that track the courses of all three chemistry degree programs and analyze the sequencing of chemistry courses.

Information and links related to the General Education program are available on the UCA gened page. A link to the 1912 general education checklist is at the bottom of that page. A check sheet for the new 2014 general education program is also available.